Flush-tank apparatus.



No. 803,356. PATENTED OCT. 31, 1905.

H. H. MOMULLBN- FLUSH TANK APPARATUS. urmcuxou mm) rum. 1905.

W A TTORNEVS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FLUSH-TANK APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1905.

Application filed January 5, 1905. Serial No. 239,694-

.To LLZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, HOWARD H. MOMULLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State.

of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flush-Tank Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to flush-tank apparatus for use in water-closets and similar places; and the object thereof is to provide an improved apparatus of this class which is simple inconstruction and operation and which will not get out of order and frequently need repairs, a further object being to provide-an apparatus of this class in which the flow of the water from the tank is controlled by a vertically-movable air-valve which is normally in position to cut off the flow ofthe water through the discharge-pipe in the operation of flushing and the movement of which in order to open said pipe is effected tion is effected in the usual manner by water which is at liberty to flow into the tank from the usual water-supply pipes of the building in which the apparatus is placed and whereby an air-cushion is formed into the top of the tank which places the water therein under pressure; and with these and other objects in View the invention consists in an apparatus of the class specified constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the fol lowing specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the Views, and in which Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of my improved flush-tank apparatus. the sectional parts being shown on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2, asimilar view looking in the direction of the arrow 00 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a partial section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 a section on the line at 4. of Fig. 2.

In the practice of my invention I provide a tank a, which is provided in the top thereof with an ordinary hand-hole a which is closed in the usual or any preferred manner, so that said hole when the apparatus is in operation is hermetically sealed. The tank a is also provided, preferably at or in the bottom thereof and near one side thereof, with a water-supply pipe or coupling a which in practice is connected with the ordinary watersupply pipe or pipes in the usual manner.

In the central portion of the bottom of the tank a is secured a tubular coupling Z2, with the lower end of which is connected a pipesection 6 which in practice'is connected at its lower end with the water basin to be flushed, and at one side of the tank a is a vertically-arranged overflow-pipe 0, which extends below and communicates with the pipesection 6 but which may be connected with and communicate with the tubular pipe-coupling b, secured in the bottom of the tank. The upper end of the overflow-pipe 0 is provided with an upwardly-directed extension 0 which in the form of construction shown is formed separately from the pipe 0 and connected therewith, as shown at 0 and the upper end of the extension 0 of the pipe 0 is provided with an enlarged oblong head or member 0, in the top of which is a port or passage 0", and in the enlarged head or member c, and centrally thereof in the form of construction shown, is supported a verticallymovable ball-valve 0", which is adapted to close the port or passage 0 and is provided with an open-work support, so that the air may be free to How around said valve.

The extension 0 of the pipe 0 is provided at the side thereof with a laterally-directed member 0 which bears on-the tank a and which is provided with a port or passage c, which communicates with the extension 0 of the pipe, and in the tank a is placed an elbowpipe (Z, one end of which is passed through the slide and through the tank and communicates with the port or passage 0 and with the extension 0 of the pipe 0, and the other end of the elbow-pipe (Z within the tank a is provided with adepending tubular member (Z in the top portion of which is a port or passage (i adapted to be closed by a ball-valve cl and normally supported in the bottom of the bottom member (Z and said bottom of the mem ber (Z is provided with ports or passages d, through which air and water are free to pass, as hereinafter described.

The tubular member 6 in the bottom portion of the tank a is provided at its upper end or within said tank with laterally-directed arms a, with which are connected verticallyarranged rods 6 which are connectedat their upper ends by a transverse plate, rod, or bar a or in any desired manner and connected with the upper end of the tubular member or coupling Z), and within the tank a is an annular valve-seat preferably composed of rubber, rubber and canvas, or other material which will not be injuriously affected by water, and this connection being preferably made by means of a collar f in the manner shown.

I also provide a hollow-ball valve 9, which is preferably composed of glass, but which may be composed of any material which will not be injuriously affected by water-such as copper, aluminium, hard rubber, or other material of this classand said valve is provided around the central portion thereof with a groove g*, in which is placed a clamp-band provided at its opposite sides with vertically-arranged tubular bearings 9, through which the rods 0 pass, and said rods form a cage and guides for the valve 9 and hold it in .proper position at all times.

The valve g is provided in the bottom thereof with an opening through which passes a vertically-arranged rod 76, which is arranged in the tube or tubular coupling 5 and passes downwardly into the tubular member or section 7), and said tubular member or section b is provided at one side with a hollow boss 6 through which is passed a shaft 2', to which is secured within the boss 5 an arm 01 which is pivotally connected with the lower end of the rod l2, as shown at Secured to the front side of the tank a is a bracket or keeper ,7', through which is passed a vertically-arranged rod K1, the lower end of which is pivotally connected at 70 with a crank 76, which is rigidly secured to the shaft The rod 70 is provided at its upper end with a cross-head 7c, and the bracket or keeper 1' in the form of construction shown is provided with laterally-directed fingers 5/ and in the form of construction shown the rod it is provided at its upper end with a head b preferably composed of rubber or similar material, and which is designed to prevent the said rod from breaking the valve g if said valve is made of glass.

The normal position of the parts of my improved fiush-tank apparatus when the latter is not in operation is that shown in Fig. 1. If new water be permitted to flow into the tank through the pipe or pipe-coupling a, the water will gradually rise in the tank, and the valve Q will remain seated, as shown in Fig. 3, and as the water continues to rise in the tank the valve cZ" will be raised and will close the port or passage (1, and the further escape of air from the tank will be cut off, and an aircushion will thus be formed in the top of the tank which will place the water therein under pressure, and only a small amount of water can enter the tank after the flow of air through the pipe (Z is cut off. It will be understood that the air which flows outwardly through the pipe (Z also escapes through the port or passage 0 in the upper end portion of the eX- tension 0 of the pipe 0, and whenever it is desired to operate the valve 9 and allow the water to escape from the tank the rod 70 is depressed by pressing the hand on the crosshead 71 or by placing the hand on said crosshead and grasping the laterally-directed fingers f of the bracket or keeper 1' and drawing down said rod. This operation turns the crank 73 and the shaft 2', and the arm 2' connected with the shaft '5, raises the rod 70, which operation raises the valve 9, and the water is free to flow into the basin to be flushed through the pipe members I) and Z2 When the water in the tank has fallen below the valve-seat f, the valve 9 will descend and assume the position shown in Fig. 1, and this operation raises the rod 71:. It will be understood that the valve g may be made of any desired weight, and when the valve has been raised, as hereinbefore described, a small amount of water will flow into said valve through the opening g but this water always flows out of said valve in the operation of flushing or when the valve rests on its seat, as shown in Fig. 1. After the rod K: has been depressed and the valve raised in the operation of flushing, as hereinbefore described, the rod 70 may be raised by hand, and the valve 9 will return to its seat when the operation of flushing is completed, as hereinbefore described, and, if desired, a spring or similar device may be employed for raising the rod is.

The port or passage 0' is intended to .permit air to flow into the tank a, as hereinbefore described, and the valve 0 is intended under certain circumstances to prevent water from being thrown out through said port or passage, which might occur in case that the valve d should fail to operate or in the case of a sudden inrush of water into the tank a, at which time the valve cl" might not operate.

Itwill be understood from the foregoing description that the tank a, except as hereinbefore described, must be hermetically closed against the entrance thereinto of air and the discharge of air therefrom, and by placing the rod h in the discharge-pipe members Z) and b and operating the rod by devices located outside of the tank the desired result is accomplished much better and more conveniently than it could be done if the said operating devices were located in the tank or partially therein.

My invention is not limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, and various changes therein and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages, and I reserve the right to make all such alterations therein as fairly come within the scope of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a flush-tank apparatus, a tank, means for supplying water thereto, a discharge-pipe secured in the bottom of said tank and provided at its upper end with a valve-seat, a vertically-movable hollow-ball valve normally seated on the valve-seat and provided with vertically-arranged side guides and an opening in the bottom thereof, a rod arranged vertically in the discharge-pipe and passing upwardly into said valve, devices for moving said rod vertically, an air-discharge tube in one side of said tank below the top thereof, and means whereby the flow of water into said tank will cut off the flow of air through said pipe, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a flush-tank apparatus, a tank provided in one side and near the top thereof with an air-discharge pipe, means for supplying water to said tank, a water-discharge pipe secured in the bottom portion of the tank and passing therethrough and provided at its upper end with an annular valve-seat, a vertically-movable hollow-ball valve mounted on said valve-seat and provided with an opening into the tank will out OK the flow of air through the air-discharge pipe, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a flush-tank apparatus, a tank provided in one side and near the bottom thereof with an air-discharge pipe, means for supplying water to said tank, a water discharge pipe secured in the bottom portion of the tank and passing therethrough and provided at its upper end with an annular valve-seat, a vertically-movable hollow-ball valve mounted on said valve-seat and provided with an opening in the bottom thereof, a rod mounted vertically in the water-discharge pipe and passing upwardly into said valve, devices located outside of the tank for moving said rod verti- 

